Persona 5 Strikers
- February 22, 2021
- ATLUS
- 25h median play time
Persona 5 Strikers is a thrilling action RPG that follows the Phantom Thieves as they explore a mysterious phenomenon occurring across Japan. Using familiar Persona abilities and a new action-based combat system, players battle enemies known as Jails and their shadows. The game continues the story of Persona 5, deepening the characters' relationships and uncovering the truth behind the Jails.
Reviews
- Engaging story that continues the narrative from Persona 5, with well-developed characters and new additions that fit well into the cast.
- Fun and dynamic combat system that blends action RPG mechanics with traditional Persona elements, allowing for strategic gameplay.
- Stunning visuals and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, featuring both remixed tracks and new compositions.
- Poor optimization on PC, leading to performance issues such as stuttering and crashes, which detracts from the gameplay experience.
- Repetitive gameplay and dungeon design that can feel tedious, with a lack of meaningful side content and character interactions.
- Absence of social links and time management elements from previous Persona games, making the experience feel less immersive and impactful.
- story2,156 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of *Persona 5 Strikers* serves as a direct sequel to *Persona 5*, continuing the adventures of the Phantom Thieves during a summer road trip across Japan. While the narrative retains the charm and character dynamics of the original, many reviewers note that it often feels like a rehash of familiar themes and plot points, lacking the depth and complexity of its predecessor. New characters Zenkichi and Sophia add fresh elements to the story, but the overall experience is described as more linear and predictable compared to the original game, making it essential for players to have prior knowledge of *Persona 5* to fully appreciate the plot.
“The game picks up after the events of Persona 5, and the story feels like it's really well crafted.”
“The story is amazing, gameplay albeit 'weird' for a first timer in this genre is pretty cool, and has a great endgame as well that's quite challenging.”
“The plot unfolds beautifully, weaving together personal struggles, friendship, and the overarching mystery.”
“The story is boring, characters are one-note versions of their mainline selves, and most importantly the gameplay sucks. I hope you like 10-second Dynasty Warriors battles followed by 5 minutes of pointless dialogue looping over and over because that's all this game seems to be.”
“The story feels like a rehash of most of the story beats of Persona 5, and while sometimes it uses this as an opportunity to show how the thieves have matured, a lot of the time the story will just feel like the same thing all over again.”
“The story is a direct sequel to Persona 5, but it completely disregards any of the events of Persona 5 Royal, so whether its canon is entirely up in the air.”
- gameplay1,305 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Persona 5 Strikers" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative blend of hack-and-slash mechanics and traditional Persona elements, such as exploiting enemy weaknesses and using personas. While some players find the fast-paced action engaging and a refreshing change from the series' usual turn-based combat, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking the depth of previous titles. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, albeit different, continuation of the Persona 5 experience, appealing primarily to fans of the franchise and those who enjoy action-oriented gameplay.
“The gameplay is fantastic, the story is great, and the music is as smooth as butter.”
“Persona 5 Strikers seamlessly blends the stylish world of Persona 5 with exhilarating action gameplay.”
“The gameplay is fun as hell despite its repetitive nature; it's extremely smooth and stylish.”
“Story is boring, characters are one-note versions of their mainline selves, and most importantly the gameplay sucks. I hope you like 10-second Dynasty Warriors battles followed by 5 minutes of pointless dialogue looping over and over because that's all this game seems to be.”
“Gameplay is boring as hell and super repetitive.”
“The gameplay loop consists of going through cutscenes or mindlessly cutting through waves of enemies when exploring a dungeon that often follows a very specific progression pattern.”
- music913 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Persona 5 Strikers" has been widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and energetic compositions. The soundtrack features a mix of remixed tracks from the original "Persona 5" alongside new songs, often described as more rock-oriented, which fits the game's fast-paced combat style. While some players noted that certain tracks felt repetitive, the overall consensus is that the music remains a standout element, enhancing the game's atmosphere and player experience.
“The soundtrack was peak; mind-blowing and remarkable, they nailed it with its acid-jazz, rock, and obviously with Lyn's astonishing performance!”
“The music is indescribably good.”
“The music is great, as usual, but most of the tracks were already in Persona 5.”
“My critique of it is that the music is very repetitive per enemy encounter.”
“The only thing I didn’t like -at all- is the 'jails' (dungeons) music.”
“The only complaint is that any song that received a 'remix' for scramble that was taken from 5 absolutely sucks in this, because they tried to turn a jazzy thing into rock, and it absolutely sucks.”
- graphics241 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of Persona 5 Strikers maintain the vibrant and stylish aesthetic of the original game, with many reviewers praising the art style and visual presentation. However, there are notable performance issues, including frame drops and crashes, which detract from the overall experience. While some players find the visuals beautiful and engaging, others criticize them for being dated or lacking in polish compared to the original titles.
“Persona 5 Strikers is just as stylish and visually striking as in the original game, with that signature Persona aesthetic still front and center.”
“The vibrant, stylized visuals pop off the screen, whether you’re exploring jails or enjoying a quiet moment at Leblanc.”
“The visuals of this game are top-notch and maintain the flair and art style from the original game that we all know and love.”
“Gameplay is fine, story mid, terrible performance and graphics.”
“The game has worse graphics than the original title and different controls, but that is to be expected because it's not made by the same people as P5 and P5R.”
“The graphics are trash, the gameplay is boring, and the story is awful.”
- optimization129 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and crashes, particularly on high-end PCs. While some users experienced smooth gameplay without any technical problems, a substantial number highlighted that the game is poorly optimized, often requiring various fixes to achieve acceptable performance. Overall, the consensus leans towards the game being unoptimized, making it a frustrating experience for many players despite its engaging gameplay and story elements.
“Performance-wise, I'm happy to report that I didn't encounter any technical issues in the entirety of my 90+ hours of playtime.”
“For optimization, it's nearly perfect; I ran it on a Radeon HD 7800 series (GPU from like 2013 that is also in PS4) and I was getting 60 fps 95% of the time.”
“Performance is smooth; this game is highly optimized for a first port of a current-gen Persona game, managing to stay at 60 fps on my GTX 1650 Ti with all settings maxed out in 1080p.”
“The game is very poorly optimized.”
“Horrible performance on a PC with specs well above the recommended, even on the lowest settings.”
“This game unfortunately has horrible optimization, and somehow I feel like the quality of the HUD and some parts of the voice acting have really downgraded here, unlike Persona 5.”
- grinding118 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly when leveling bond points and facing bosses with excessive health. While some appreciate the fusion mechanics and the ability to grind at their own pace, others feel that the repetitive nature of quests and combat can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, players suggest that while grinding is a significant part of the experience, it can lead to frustration, especially in the late game.
“However, the game allows you to increase the level of a persona by spending persona points (earned by fusion, releasing personae, or collecting personae from battle when your stock is full), so no tedious grinding is necessary to meet those requirements.”
“Almost no grinding was involved, and I had a lot of fun the entire time (except for a single battle).”
“Lastly, grinding the bond level is a giant chore.”
“Not to mention the game still expects you to do the most boring thing, grind, and more grinding.”
“The grinding in this game is so unnecessarily tedious for late game personas, it requires much lower level personas to reach a threshold in level before you fuse them.”
- humor82 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the witty writing and character interactions that evoke laughter and warmth. While some moments are considered forced or repetitive, particularly in fanservice scenes, the overall comedic tone remains a highlight, especially during the characters' shenanigans and vacation adventures. Fans appreciate the blend of humor with heartfelt moments, making it a fun experience for those familiar with the series.
“The writing is hilarious and amazing as always, loved getting more phantom thief interactions and the new characters were also amazing.”
“The character interactions are great and provide lots of humorous and some badass moments.”
“The story is as funny and emotional as ever and there are improvements on almost every level; the music is great, the characters still keep their development from the last game, the UI somehow tops the original, and the combat is very fun and addicting.”
“The only negative opinion I have on the Persona series is that the fanservice scenes are not funny... I don't like them.”
“The character of Sophie and her story arc is basically a recycling of Aigis from Persona 3; Zenkichi is just Dojima from Persona 4. The reprisal of the Persona 3/4 hot springs scene is unnecessary, unfunny, and tired.”
- emotional61 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt story and character development, which resonate deeply with players, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. Many reviews praise the balance of hype and emotional depth, showcasing touching interactions between characters and their antagonists, while also noting the nostalgic and heartwarming experiences throughout the journey. However, some players feel that the emotional impact is lessened compared to previous entries due to a more streamlined narrative and fewer opportunities for character connections.
“The plot of the story is very heartfelt and emotional.”
“If you loved Persona 5, you will enjoy playing this game because it allows you to know more about the phantom thieves, have some fun and heartwarming moments with them, and even explore in more detail the philosophical and ethical questions that the previous game discussed.”
“The story is as funny and emotional as ever and there are improvements on almost every level; the music is great, the characters still keep their development from the last game, the UI somehow tops the original, and the combat is very fun and addicting.”
“The game had potential, but the emotional moments felt forced and unconvincing.”
“I expected to feel more connected to the characters, but their development was lacking.”
“While the visuals were stunning, the emotional impact of the narrative fell flat.”
- character development56 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with returning characters largely lacking new growth due to their previous arcs being fully explored in Persona 5. However, new characters receive significant development, adding depth to the narrative and enhancing the overall experience. While fans of the series may appreciate the familiar dynamics and interactions, those seeking substantial character evolution for the original cast may find it lacking.
“The character development and interpersonal relationships maintain the depth and charm that fans have come to expect from the Persona series.”
“The captivating storyline, rich character development, and vibrant art style that fans love are all present, now complemented by dynamic real-time combat.”
“Once again, Atlus outdid themselves in making the party feel like a tight-knit group of friends, and even gave some much-needed character development to those left hanging from the original.”
“It appears as if the developers of P5S were given the impossible task of writing a story that didn’t spoil Persona 5 and consequently avoids any character development of the original cast.”
“There's little in the way of character development as all of the Phantom Thieves already had their character development and got to know each other.”
“The characters that return are amusing, but they are snapshots of themselves from the end of Persona 5, so don't expect any real character development.”
- stability56 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and bugs that significantly disrupt gameplay. While some users have experienced smooth performance without issues, a substantial number have faced frustrating technical problems, particularly during loading screens and boss fights. Overall, the game appears to be poorly optimized, leading to a generally unstable experience for many players.
“The game is bug-free and runs buttery smooth; not a single crash throughout my playthrough.”
“Game runs great and loads fast on my AMD 2700X/GTX 1060 6GB setup, even when installed on a spinning HDD.”
“The game runs great now.”
“The game crashes and freezes very often (especially after long fights).”
“Game constantly freezes, totally unacceptable.”
“Constant crashes, freezes, and poor optimization make it almost unplayable.”
- replayability23 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the additional challenges and rewards from new game plus (NG+) and side quests, others find the linear storyline limits replay value. Many reviews highlight that the game offers decent replayability, especially for completionists and those seeking a challenge, but it lacks the depth and character development found in previous Persona titles. Overall, the game provides enough content and incentives for multiple playthroughs, though opinions vary on its overall replayability compared to other entries in the series.
“Persona 5 Strikers offers more replayability compared to Persona 5 Royal, and I can't wait to get back into New Game+ after clearing the post-game.”
“The game is fun and has side quests you can do for rewards such as money, experience, new weapons, items, etc. There is a ton of replayability.”
“It's a lot of fun and there's a lot of replay value, especially since the game rewards you for revisiting places you've already been to for additional bonuses.”
“The game only takes around 30 to 35 hours to finish; there's not that much replayability, and the combat aspect of the game is mostly different from Persona 5 Royal, so setting the game at $60 really makes it hard for other Persona 5 fans to justify a purchase like this.”
“It's definitely extremely linear and doesn't seem to have much meaningful replayability.”
“[b] Replayability is almost nonexistent [/b]”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to retain the distinct style and musical elements of Persona 5, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive soundtracks and unique dungeon themes that enhance the overall experience. While some noted that the atmosphere may not feel as distinct as previous titles, the combination of familiar characters and engaging environments successfully immerses players in the Persona universe. Overall, the game effectively captures the essence of its predecessor, blending it with new gameplay elements while maintaining a captivating atmosphere.
“Loved the remixed tracks from Persona 5 and the new tracks for the jails are perfect for the atmosphere.”
“Each dungeon theme is unique, and the atmospheres they set are great, borderline some of the best the series offers.”
“Does a great job at capturing the Persona 5 atmosphere, even when it's not a JRPG.”
“However, the details and the atmosphere do not feel as distinct as the three games helmed by the previous director.”
“This is true for gameplay, atmosphere, and even story--it hits many of the same beats, including a couple of the more tiresome ones.”
“The first jail has an absolute banger of a track, while the others do their job of building atmosphere well enough.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players initially perceiving it as a cash grab due to its pricing and marketing hype. However, many fans ultimately found value in the game, appreciating its quality and connection to the Persona series, suggesting that it is worth the investment for dedicated fans. Overall, while there are concerns about its commercial intent, the game is seen as a genuine addition to the franchise rather than a low-effort product.
“But like man, I was expecting so much more from the game because of all the advertising and hype it got.”
“Verdict: P5S is a toned down imitation of P5 that at times feels lovingly crafted, but mostly just a cynical cash grab made for fans and only fans.”
“The gameplay is excellent and at the start I thought it was just a total cash grab due to the price, but this is a genuine Persona game even with the involvement of Koei Tecmo in this game.”